title: Serum fetuin-A levels are associated with carotid intima-media thickness in patients with normotensive chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are contradictory reports about the relationship between fetuin-A and atherosclerotic process. Coronary artery disease is the most important cause of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to investigate the association of serum fetuin-A level with mean carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the association of serum fetuin-A level, mean cIMT and ABI in normotensive subjects with COPD (n = 65) and with non-COPD (n = 50).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fetuin-A level was significantly lower (63.5 ± 19.8 ng/mL, 72.9 ± 16.2 ng/mL, p = 0.035) and C-reactive protein level higher (4 [1-10] vs. 3 [1-12] mg/dL, p = 0.034) in COPD patients than the control group. Compared to controls, fetuin-A level was significantly lower (63.5 ± 19.8 ng/mL, 72.9 ± 16.2 ng/mL, p = 0.035) and mean cIMT higher (0.69 [0.50-0.98] vs. 0.62 [0.44-0.98] mm, p = 0.034, respectively) in the COPD group. There was a significant negative correlation between mean cIMT and fetuin-A levels (r = -0.320, p = 0.032). Age (b ± SE: 0.002 ± 0.001, p = 0.008) and fetuin-A (b ± SE: -0.002 ± 0.001, p = 0.035) were decisive for the mean cIMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are increased cIMT values, decreased fetuin-A levels, but unchanged ABI values in patients with normotensive COPD. Age and fetuin-A were predictors for cIMT, while fetuin-A was negatively correlated with cIMT.
authors.forename: Seref
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alpsoy
authors.affiliation: Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Medicine, Tekirdağ, Turkey. ayakyuzq5@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akyuz
authors.forename: Levent Cem
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.forename: Dursun Cayan
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Akkoyun
authors.forename: Birol
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Topcu
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Degirmenci
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C556354:AHSG protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein